Inside a 200-year-old French Château transformed by its Australian owner Suzie Jackson

This week on the Home Life Series, we’re thrilled to take you to France for an exclusive tour of Château de la Carrière, a 200-year-old French château transformed by its Australian owner Suzie Jackson. 

After years of dreaming and a profound love for France and food, Suzie found her perfect match in this stunning neo-classical château, nestled on 25 acres of serene gardens, manicured parklands, and enchanting woodlands. Her vision was to transform this historic estate into a welcoming haven, blending timeless elegance with modern touches. The eclectic interior, bathed in natural light, showcases extensive renovations and features unique antiques from the château’s attic second-hand shop. 

As France buzzes with excitement for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Suzie’s château offers a peaceful escape just an hour from the city.

Hi Suzie, we’re so excited to see Kip&Co make it all the way to France! Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself and how you ended up acquiring this gorgeous Château?

I have aways loved France and anything French…my other love is food and so buying a château where I could have guests come to stay seemed the ideal way to combine the two. Trying to find the right château when you live on the other side of world however is not easy and requires a lot of perseverance and a bit of luck. But I knew from the moment I drove up the driveway that it was the one – built almost 200 years ago in the neo-classical style with fairytale turrets it was the château I had dreamt of. 

With 25 acres of garden, park and woodlands and in a very rural part of France, it has the peace and quiet that I was looking for. Only just over a hour by train from Paris, so it’s easy to spend a few days in Paris too..

What can you tell us about the history of the Château and your vision when you bought the place?

The family that built the château lived in the château for around 150 years and it passed from one generation to the next so many of the original features like the marble fireplaces, parquet floors and wood panelling were still intact. So, whilst it needed a lot of work it wasn’t a complete restoration and seemed like a manageable project. 

My vision was to create a welcoming magical place where guests could come to stay and feel like they had been invited to a friends fabulous country house. The rooms are full of things I have collected or created and we even have a second-hand shop in the attic so guests can take some treasures home with them. The château has a very peaceful and welcoming energy and so it’s the perfect place for retreats, weddings, special events and those wanting to experience a little bit of château magic.

Describe the interior style of the Château and any restorations you’ve made to the property? 

The overall style of the château is very eclectic with a mix of old and new. The light floods into the château so it feels very light and airy. The renovations have been enormous and more than I expected as not only has the château been completely renovated but the outbuildings have been converted to holiday accommodation and guest areas. Plus the gardens were redesigned by Paul Bangay. 

The roof and stonework repairs are ongoing as is restoration of the wood work and I have almost lost count of how many bathrooms and kitchens I have designed. When you own a château the to-do list never really gets any smaller. As you cross one thing off you usually add two new items so you learn to be patient and just do what you can.

With the 2024 Olympics Games kicking off earlier this week, France must be buzzing with excitement! How has the atmosphere been, and what is the energy like walking down the street? 

Being in the French countryside there is not quite the buzz like being in Paris but there has been lots of events and activities associated with the Olympics being in France.

For anyone lucky enough to be visiting France this year for the Olympics, what are your top 3 must-do’s, aside from visiting the Château, of course? 

If you are in Paris for the Olympics try and see a show at the Moulin Rouge, wander around the Marais for some fabulous vintage finds or venture out to the famous Paris flea market to find a few treasures to take back home. If you have time maybe venture out of Paris and explore some of the French countryside…there is no end of beautiful little villages to explore and enjoy.